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THE PATHOLASE PINPOINT™FOOTLASER™ The Newest and Safest Treatment in the Fight against Toenail FungusBY PEDRAM HENDIZADEH D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S.
Have you ever suffered from toenail fungus? Are you embarrassed
to go to the nail salon or go to the beach with friends or family al
because of the appearance of your nails? Have you tried med-
ications, only to be frustrated when nothing works? If so, laser therapy
Onychomycosis, most commonly known as a chronic toenail fungal
infection, can be very difficult to treat as it grows extremely slowly. The
fungal organism that is the source of the problem can only be kil ed dur-
ing its growth phase. That is why it can be very frustrating for many der-
matologists and podiatrists to treat toenail fungus.
SignS and SymptomS
Fungal infections can go unnoticed for long periods of time because
there may be no initial discoloration or pain. The infection is a mold
that typical y occurs when the toenail is exposed to a dark, warm, moist
environment. A fungal nail infection that is persistent monly used in the 1960s and 1970s as a first-line treat-
or becomes painful should be treated. Otherwise, it can ment for fungal infections. However, due to a significant
cause problems and potential y impact the function of liver toxicity, it quickly fel out of favor. In the 1980s, top-
the entire foot. The fungus breeds underneath the ical antifungal medications were frequently used,
growing portion of the nail and can occasional y pene- though these had limited success (less than 10%). In the
trate through the surface of the nail. Studies have mid-1990s, oral medications such as terbinafine and
shown health-related quality-of-life issues associated itraconazole were used. These newer agents had the
with onychomycosis, and it is clear that patient treat-
ment is both necessary and desirable.
A fungal infection is diagnosed by its appearance –
THE LASER, WHICH IS NOW
a thickening and discoloration of the nail plate as wel as
FDA-CLEARED FOR THE TREATMENT
a possible foul odor. As the nail thickens, it may lift from
the nail bed (onycholysis). Other symptoms include brit-
OF NAIL FUNGUS, IS A SPECIALLY
tleness, chronic in-grown toenails, and debris under the
nails. In some forms of fungal nail infections, a black or
white, powdery discoloration may appear on the sur-
SHINES THROUGH THE TOENAIL ANDVAPORIZES THE PATHOGENS EMBED-
Toenail fungus can become debilitating, interfering
DED IN THE NAIL BED AND NAIL PLATE
with walking and causing pain from shoe pressure. If
the infected toenail is left untreated, further complica-
tions may occur. In some cases, the nail can break away advantage (over griseofulvin) of reduced toxicity and a
from the underlying skin (the nail bed), al owing the shorter duration of therapy. However, results were
fungus to spread to other parts of the foot. Although moderate (approximately 55-65% improvement) and
the degree to which the infection spreads varies from liver toxicity was stil an issue. Similar to griseofulvin,
person to person, it is best to identify and treat the terbinafine and itraconazole are stil in use today, de-
treatmentS LaSer treatment
Many treatment modalities have been used over
Today, there is a new treatment that has been ex-
the years. First isolated in 1939, griseofulvin was com- tremely beneficial in the fight against fungus - The
PathoLase PinPoint™ FootLaser™. This breakthrough
technology was introduced nearly 2 years ago and has
shown significant success in the treatment of chronic
fungal infections. PathoLase, the company that de-
veloped this light-based procedure, claims an 88%
success rate. The laser, which is now FDA-cleared for
the treatment of nail fungus, is a special y designed,
patented device that shines through the toenail and
vaporizes the pathogens embedded in the nail bed
Upon first hearing of this technology at the 2008
American Podiatric Medical Association Annual Con-
ference, I was immediately interested, especial y be-
cause there were no other effective treatments
available at the time. I was, to say the least, a little
skeptical of its efficacy as none of the other treat-
ment modalities have worked wel thus far. A close
col eague of mine first began using the laser in Sep-
tember 2008. He advised me that the procedure
worked wel . I asked to see the results after 3-4
months, as it takes several months for the nail to
completely grow out. In December 2008, he in-
formed me that the procedure was very successful in
treating some of the worst cases of fungal nail infec-
In early 2009, we brought the laser to the Long
Island area as wel as to our Connecticut offices and
have performed the procedure on over 430 patients.
We have seen a significant number of happy and very
satisfied patients – patients who have been frustrated
throughout the years. They found this modality the
only effective means in the treatment of their debili-
tating and cosmetical y unappealing condition.
This PathoLase PinPoint™ FootLaser™ is safe,
pain-free and performed in one treatment with no
need for drugs or anesthesia. This state-of-the-art
premiere treatment therapy uses a laser that passes
directly through the nail to target the precise infec-
tion site. As the laser passes through the nail, it iden-
tifies and destroys the pathogens that cause the
fungus. The laser does not harm the nail or sur-
rounding skin in any way. Fol owing this procedure,
the toenail wil eventual y grow back new; clear,
The entire procedure takes approximately 30-
45 minutes and is performed in the comfort of our of-
fice. Approximately 85% of my patients that I have
performed the procedure on have been extremely
satisfied after one treatment. We have seen such
great results that we now have two lasers in our
group. Only a smal percentage of the patients have
needed a second treatment in an attempt to get rid of
a stubborn fungal infection. In my experience, over-
al this is the best treatment to date for this unsightly
Feel free to do more research on this topic at
www.Greatfootcare.com and www.LIfootcare.com.
You can also visit www.PathoLase.com for more in-
formation on this innovative technology. image

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